Dick Advocaat has confirmed his U-turn over the Sunderland job was due to his wife dropping her objections to him staying on.

After keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League last season, the 67-year-old was keen to carry on but said he would honour a promise he made to his family and retire from club management.

But just a week later he announced he had signed a new one-year deal at the Stadium of Light, and when he met the media today he revealed his wife had had a change of heart.

“The most important thing was that the family was happy,” he said.

“The club tried every day to convince me and she was listening and I said ‘no, I can’t do it’, but at a certain moment she said ‘if you still want to do it, just do it’.

“That was the moment that Lee [Congerton, Sunderland’s sporting director] was pushing every day, and the president [chairman Ellis Short].

“Not to become sentimental but we had a great time last season, the way we did it together and the feeling I had - I was explaining that to her as well, and that I still want to work.

“I still feel really good, and that changed her mind.”

When Advocaat’s return was confirmed, Sunderland fans set up an online donation page which aimed to raise £150 to buy Mrs Advocaat a bunch of flowers - but the campaign ended up raising more than £2,500, with all the extra money being given to charity.

Advocaat said: “That was something special [for me], also to her - it says everything about the club.”